Current Events Chat With Micah Freeman, Western Pacific Regional Director This article is a conversation with a few members about recent events. Each woman featured here is from a different part of the country with a different upbringing. I asked each of them five questions.
friends. We were also supposed to go on a cruise as well as a trip to Miami to celebrate my eldest daughter's graduation. Missing out on those trips made the kiddos and myself sad. Every year I participate in NATCA in Washington, but it was canceled due I first spoke with an air traffic control- to COVID-19. ler who is originally from New Haven, CT (home of the best pizza in the Q4: What is something interesting country). She is also the legislative you would like to share about yourrepresentative for NATCA at JCF self? (Joshua Control Facility). JCF ATCS: I have a huge passion for Q1: Has anything significant in your the broken foster care system and I life changed because of COVID-19? love to give back to the less fortunate. One day, I hope to expand my Joshua Control Facility Air Traffic Con- philanthropy in bigger ways and control Specialist (JCF ATCS): I have untinue to advocate for those voices fortunately experienced the loss of often go unheard. I will climb the highloved ones during this time; some to est mountain for my children, so the virus and some unrelated to that’s where my drive comes from. I COVID-19. My oldest daughter gradu- want to fix the world so I can feel ated high school during this time and better about leaving my children in it. it didn’t go as I envisioned it in my mind. I’ve also had to come up with Q5: When you hear “Black Lives innovative things to do with my Matter”, how do you feel? youngest daughter. As crazy as this time has been; it has really brought us JCF ATCS: I believe it’s long overdue together. to give laser focus on these issues. It transcends so many facets in society Q2: Has sheltering in place due to and tough conversations need to hapCOVID-19 allowed you to spend more pen. We can no longer turn a blind time with loved ones? In what way? eye to injustice and there is a need to have more seats at the table so differJCF ATCS: When our facility was on ent perspectives are heard. I feel like the five off, five on schedule, I spent a words have been used to weaponize lot of time at home doing movie and what is a simple phrase: “Black lives game nights along with homeschool- Matter”. It’s as simple as that! I think ing. diversity and inclusion is essential and this movement is just the spark to Q3: Were any of your spring/summer push for more of that. The marginalplans canceled due to COVID-19? ized parts of society matter and deserve to be heard. JCF ATCS: For spring break, we always fly home to New York/Connecticut to Next, I spoke with a controller who is hang out with cousins and my best originally from Buffalo, NY. At her fa-
cility, ZOB (Cleveland Center), she is also the national childcare representative for NATCA and the FAA. Q1: Has anything significant in your life changed because of COVID-19? Cleveland ARTCC ATCS (ZOB ATCS): Yes, I haven't seen my parents and family who all live in New York. I had plane tickets to Connecticut to see my 97 year-old grandfather and haven't been able to visit him either. Q2: Has sheltering in place due to COVID-19 allowed you to spend more time with loved ones? In what way? ZOB ATCS: Physically, no. Virtually, yes, we've had social hours and worked out together over zoom.
Q3: Were any of your Spring/Summer plans canceled due to COVID-19? ZOB ATCS: No, I didn't expect to have a spring or summer since we were slotted to go into six day work weeks at my facility. I usually take all my leave in the fall. Q4: What is something interesting you would like to share about yourself?
ZOB ATCS: I have over 100 pairs of shoes and as much as I love all shoes my favorite is being barefoot or in flip flops. Q5: When you hear Black Lives Matter, how do you feel? ZOB ATCS: I feel it is important. I spoke with a California native who is an air traffic controller at PSP (Palm Springs Airport). 26
